Combined electric connecting plug, socket, and switch.



W. W. BUGKTON.

COMBINED ELECTRIC CONNECTING PLUG, SOCKET, AND SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1909.

Patentad Feb. 1, 19101.

Ina-era WILLIAM woonm BUCKTON, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLND. v

COMBINED ELEG'JERIC CONNECTING PLUG, SOCKET, AND SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

Application filed April, 1808. Serial No. 491,957.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Wooom county of London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Electric .Connecting Plu Sockets, and Switches, of which the fol owing is a specification.

The present invention relates to a means for imparting a quick break to the switch of a combined plug, socket and switch fitting which is independent of the motion imparted directly to the switch blades by the operator in switching ofi..

Combined connecting plugs, sockets and switches are in general use to-day of a type wherein the plug on being inserted in the socket forms the handle of the switch and wherein the plug on being turned through a portion of a revolution operates the switch to either complete or interrupt the circuit between the wires attached to the terminals of the plug and the main circuit connected to the spring terminals of the switch.

A spring is commonly em loyed which tends to withdraw the switch-b ade or blades quickly away from the spring contacts when the plug and socket are turned so as to interrupt the circuit, but no means have been provided to insure a quick-break under all conditions of operation, as the plug and socket can be held against the action of the spring, thereby preventin the switch-blade or blades springing rapid y away from the contacts.

My invention consists in incasing the exterior cylindrical portion of the plug with a loosely fitting ring or cylinder which is held by the person usln the fitting. This ring is so attached to tie plug as to allow the plug and consequently the socket to revolve sufiiciently, when switching-off, to enable the switch-blade or blades to be drawn out of connection with the spring contacts under the influence of the sprin only. By this means an instantaneous and quick interruption of the circuit is attained quite independent of the operator.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a plug of ordinary construction to which my invention has been applied, with the rin broken partly away. Fig. 2 is a sectional p an view of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a socket and switch of a convenient t pe for use with my improved plug, escribed, with the cover removed.

ig. 4 is an elevation partly in section, of the socket and switch shown in Fig. 3 the revoluble portion being shown detached 0m its base and one contact only being shown on the base, namely that which engages with the left hand blade on the revoluble portion. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view similar to Fig. 2, of a modified form of construction of the plug. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.

.1 of an alternative construction, and Fig. 7

is a similar view of a further modification.

The plug a is made as usual with an insulating disk I) in which are fitted the usual contact pins 0. The plug a is surrounded by the loosely fitting ring d.

In the preferred construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the ring is held in its place between a flange a. at the top of the plug and the insulating disk 6. I make the ring (1 to extend to the top of the flange a above, and to the bottom of the insulating disk 1) below, so that it is im ossible for the fin ers of the operator to ho d the plug fast w en gripping the ring (1. In the plug handle a 1s cut a groove e extending part way around the plug and also downward, bayonet shaped. (See Figs. 1 and 2). The ring at is fitted with a pin 7, which, when the ring (2 is in position on the plug handle is adapted to turn in the groove e. The ring is preferably slipped on the plug handle before the insulating disk 15 is fixed in position, the vertical groove e allowing the pin f to pass. When the disk I) .is secured by the screws 9, the ring d is held against detachment from the plug handle. The groove'e may bemade to run right around the plug handle for convenience in manufacture, and pins h, see

Fig. 5, may be inserted in the groove as,

stops to limit the play or turning movement of the plu within the ring.

The soc et shown in Fig. 3 and; is of well-known construction. he base plate p carries the revoluble socket portion 9 on which are the contact sleeves 1'. On the plug being inserted in the socket g and being turned in the direction of the arrow, the contact arms 8 of the switch, which are permanently connected to the contact sleeves 'r in the socket q, engage with theycontact springs t. A spring u tends to bring the tion between the plug an arms 8 quickly back into the ofi position as soon as the socket g is turned b means of the plug in the op osite direction to the arrow sufiiciently to ring the contact arms 8 out of engagement with the spring contacts t. The revoluble portion 9 turns upon the pin or pivot o, carried b the plate w. This late w is secured to the ase p by screws on as. erminal screws y y serve to connect the spring contacts t t to the circuit leads.

Now when the socket shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is used with the plug, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and the lug is turned to switch off the current, the s ot e will allow thev plug a to spring back quickly under the action of the s ring it, the pin f fixed on the ring sliding reely in the slot 6, and it will be impossible for the person switching off the current to hold the plug against the action of the spring u. A quick break is thus insured.

Alternative constructions of plugs fitted with loose rings according to this invention areshown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In the constructions shown in Fig. 6 two pins 1 are fixed in the lug handle and work in slots or recesses d in the ring d so as to allow'the ring d to have play on the plug holder.

'In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the pin f works in a slot 45 in the body of the ring d. This construction renders it unnecessary to have a flange on the plug handle a to keep the rin (Z in position.

I WlSh it to be understood that I do not struction of my invention shown in Figs. 1

2, 5, 6 and 7, nor to the exact construction of switch shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these being given by way of example only.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a combined electric connecting plug socket and switch, a plug, a socket, having a revoluble portion, a s ring which tends to draw the said revolu le portion into the ofi position, on the plug being artially turned, means for makin electricai connecd the revoluble portion of the socket, and a rin fitting the plug loosely and allowing the pfiig to turn in it the off position by a spring, means for making electrical contact between the plug and the revoluble portion of the socket, a ring fitting the plug loosely, and allowing the plug to turn in it, to a limited extent but secured against detachment from the plug, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a combined electric connecting plug socket and switch, a plug, a socket having a revoluble portion, which is normally held in the off position by a spring, means for making electrical contact between the plug and the revoluble portion of the socket, a ring fitting the plug handle loosely, a oove running part way around the p ug andle and a pin on the ring fitting loosely in said groove, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a combined electric connecting plug socket and switch, a plug, a socket having a revoluble portion, which is normally held in the off position by a 5 ring, means for making electrical contact etween the plug and the revoluble portion of the socket, a ring fitting the lug handle loosely, and havin a bayonet s aped groove running vertica to the plug handle and part-way around it, a pin on the ring fittin loosely in said groove, and means for holdin the ring normally against detachment rom the plug handle, as and for the pur ose set forth.

5. In a plug for use wit a combined electric connecting plug socket and switch mechanism, having a spring controlled revoluble portion, a loosely fitting ring surrounding the handle of said plug and arranged to allow of a limited turning movement between tfhe lug and ring, as and for the purpose set ort- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two witnesses, this fifth day of April 1909.

' WILLIAM WOODYER BUGK'IION. Witnesses:

LOVELL NEWTON Rnonm, ARTHUR JOHN CooLnY. 

